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That Thomas Hawksley, the man who brought tapped water to the masses, was born in Arnold; children are still being taught in Arnold’s oldest school buildings dating back nearly 200 years, or that a tunnel built under Arnot Hill Park in the late 1700s was used as an air raid shelter in the Second World War?

The lake and house at Arnot Hill Park, once the home of engineer Thomas Hawkesley, taken at the turn of the century where Gedling Borough Council offices now stand.

These are just a few of the intriguing historical notes collected by writer Bob Massey for his third volume of Snippets From History – Arnold, Mapperley And The Villages.

Mr Massey, 70, from Arnold, originally wrote the articles for Nottingham’s NG series of magazines.

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Such was the level of interest in his columns, and the local history of Arnold, he was encouraged to compile them for a book.

Local historian Bob Massey.

Mr Massey, a retired theatre consultant, said: “The area has a vast range of history which has generated a large interest.

“The local history group has more than 200 members who attend regular meetings. Local history courses are now drawing 25 or more students each time. And a local history walk at Hallowe'en attracted 87 people.”

Mr Massey has been immersed in the past for more than 40 years, researching, writing and teaching.

“I teach three courses a year on Arnold history but I used to teach theatre at Birmingham University. My one claim to fame is that I taught a young Victoria Wood,” he explains.

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His latest collection ranges from ancient history, including the origins of Arnot Hill Park; the arrival of industry in the area primarily in the mills built by Robert Davison and Thomas Hawksley, and more modern history such as the opening of the Byron Cinema at Hucknall in the early 1930s, and the first local radio station in 1924.

The Byron Cinema in Hucknall as it used to be.

The Byron was described as a super cinema with seating for 1,250 paying customers who queued up to see the first feature, The Littlest Rebel, starring Shirley Temple. Seat prices ranged from 6d in the pit stalls up to 1s 3d in the upper circle. And here was a novelty we have come to accept: OAPs were admitted for half price in the stalls ... but only for the Saturday matinee.

Mr Massey also writes about relatively recent local history.

“In the 1950s my grandfather worked at Rolls Royce Hucknall and as a nine-year-old in 1957 I went with him to an open day at the aerodrome.”

He remembers seeing Hucknall’s own Spitfire and “possibly the most unusual and strange aircraft ever to fly, the TMR, more commonly known as the Flying Bedstead”.

The Flying Bedstead takes to the air over Hucknall Aerodrome in the early 1950s during a demonstration to a group of visiting dignitaries.

This, he explains, was the test rig for the first jet-powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft, TMR standing for Thrust Measuring Rig.

“Its resemblance to a four-poster bed soon earned it its nickname,” he adds.

The first test flights were tethered to the ground but then the go-ahead was given for a free test and in August 1954, at the hands of Captain Ron Sheppard, the TMR successfully manoeuvred over Hucknall aerodrome to become the first jet-lift aircraft to fly anywhere in the world. The forerunner to the Harrier jump jet was a reality.

Development at Hucknall continued but not without cost. In November 1957 Air Commodore Larsen was killed while testing the second prototype.

Mr Massey turns to his grandfather again to tell the story of 5NG, a BBC local radio station which began broadcasting from a building in Bridlesmith Gate which later became home to the Dog And Bear public house.

The newly created British Broadcasting Company established more than a dozen similar stations around the country, broadcasting a mix of features for women, children and teenagers, plus music by popular orchestras including, in April 1925, a visit to Nottingham of the famous St Hilda Colliery Band from South Shields, reigning world brass band champions.

5NG transmitted from a single studio measuring just 18ft x 35ft, using a single microphone and a gramophone.

Nottingham's first local radio station was broadcast from this building in 1925 - it later became the Dog and Bear public house.

Mr Massey records: “On Thursday, April 8, 1926 a musical play, the first of its type, was broadcast.

“The play was called Cupid The Plot, written by Arnold D Sykes with music by local bandleader Billy Merrin.”

The cast of local actors included Miss L A Mumford and writer Mr A D Sykes.

The play was broadcast from Burton Joyce Village Hall and was well received, according to a review in the Post.

The station ceased operations in 1928 and listeners had to wait until 1968 for its return when BBC Radio Nottingham went on air.

Mr Massey, who is already working on new projects including research into the lives of three prominent local families who helped to shape the Arnold we know today, says: “None of my books are in chronological order. I have concentrated on stories or tales of the area, allowing readers to dip into the books at their leisure.”

Snippets From History – Arnold, Mapperley And The Villages, priced £4.95, is available from Arnold Local History Group, NG Magazines, MSR News, Front Street; Five Leaves Bookshop, Long Row, Nottingham; Lowdham Bookcase.